Originally written by Ron Kurowski in Summer 1996
Digitized by the Friends of the KMSFSU in August 2024
This past summer, work began on a new nature trail within our State Forest that will be called the Stute Springs & Homestead Nature Trail. Located west of the Forest headquarters along Hwy Z. this former farm was used by the Stute family for 3 generations, from about 1850 until 1943.
The State Forest acquired this parcel in 1980 but the farmhouse and immediate grounds were rented out until 1995, when the rental agreement was terminated and plans were made for the removal of the buildings.
Members of the Stute family and the Eagle Historical Society contacted us with information about the Stute family history and urged us to preserve the barn, house. and outbuildings. While we were not able to restore and preserve the house and barn due to financial restraints, we were interested in preserving the history of this family farm and agreed to preserve some of the smaller outbuildings and develop a new brochure-guided nature trail. The theme of this trail centers around the resourcefulness and frugality of the Stute family as they farmed this rugged glacial landscape.
The outbuildings that we plan to preserve include a log smoke house, a springhouse, a milkhouse, a fieldstone chicken coop, a fieldstone machine shed, and a fieldstone wall from the old farm house. In addition. there are remnants of old stone fences, natural springs, glacial ridges, hills, kettles, and large oak trees. A hill called the Big Hill (named by the local people) was a favorite of the Stute family because one could see Lapham Peak and Holy Hill from its crest.
Thus far much has been accomplished by State Forest staff and volunteers, in preparation for the opening of this trail sometime next year. The entire trail has been bushed out, the overlook on the Big Hill has been partially cleared, the brochure has been written and sent to the graphics dept. Several drawings have been completed, the barn and house have been taken down and buried, rubbish has been picked up, a parking lot has been installed, masonry work has been done on the chicken coop, a new foundation has been constructed for the smokehouse, posts for the various stops have been installed, and a grant to repair the smokehouse has been applied for.
Using profits from the sale of book sold at the Visitor Center, our association applied for a grant to repair the smokehouse, whereby our contribution of $500 will be matched by another $500, if approved. If granted, we will hire Eagle Restoration, a private contractor specializing in the restoration of old log buildings.
A number of things still need to be done, however. The springhouse and milkhouse will eventually have to be restored, but this could be done after the trail is opened. As funds are acquired, these buildings could be worked on and eventually opened for interpretation.
Once completed, this nature trail will tell another interesting chapter in the history of the Kettle Moraine.
Stute Springs & Homestead Trail
